Serum angiogenic factors in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of abdominal organs.

ABSTRACT

The initial (before treatment) levels of VEGF, endostatin, and tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta) were measured in the sera of 20 patients with malignant and benign neuroendocrine tumors of the abdominal organs and 25 healthy controls. The initial levels of VEGF, endostatin, and TNF-beta in the total group of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of abdominal organs did not differ from the control. A significant difference was detected between the mean serum concentrations of endostatin in patients with benign and malignant neuroendocrine tumors 64.1+/-14.7 and 107.8+/-14.1 ng/ml, respectively (p=0.043). The content of VEGF, endostatin, and TNF-beta did not correlate with patients' gender and age. A direct correlation between endostatin, TNF-beta concentrations and maximum size of the primary tumor was detected in patients with malignant neuroendocrine tumors. Direct correlations between the initial levels of VEGF and endostatin and an inverse correlation between VEGF and TNF-beta concentrations were detected in patients with benign neuroendocrine tumors. Relapse-free survival was significantly lower in patients with serum endostatin concentration >100 ng/ml and TNF-beta<30 pg/ml.